Among the thousands who perished at Passchendaele in 1917 was the Kent and England cricketer Colin Blythe who hailed from Deptford in south-east London, where he is not forgotten

The blizzard of remembrance around sport at this time of year can be a little overwhelming. In part this is because remembrance has become more rather than less intense with the passing of time. The further we get from the wars of the 20th century, the more keenly they seem to be with us, woven into the rhythm of the sporting seasons.

Plus the details are overwhelming. This weekend marks the 101st anniversary of the end of the battle of Passchendaele, where around half a million men from both sides died over the course of 103 days. How to grasp this industrialised slaughter? How to remember it in a way that makes any sense?